Transparent cigarette case or the like



Jan.19,194 3. QA. PQ CE 2,3 0

TRANSPARENT CIGARETTE CASE OR THE- LIKE Filed A ril 24, 1941 1 I mm Patented Jan. 19, 1943 STATES EN? DFFICE.

TRANSPARENT CIGARETTE ,CASE THE LIKE Clarence A. Peirce, New Haven, Conn., assignor to The Box Shop, Inc., New

4 Claims.

This invention relates to cartons and con tainers, and more particularly to an article of this kind made in the form of a small case which may be opened and closed, and which may be conveniently used to hold cigarettes, for example. It also particularly relates to a cigarette or the like case which may be formed of transparent sheet material, such, for example, as Celluloid or a similar product, whereby the content of the case may be seen through the walls thereof.

Such material is relatively stiff and brittle, but at the same time is somewhat flexible. If, however, it is continually bent along the same line or at the same place, it is quite apt to split or tear, and as it is necessary in a cigarette case, for example, to arrange a COVer for the container which may be opened so that a cigarette can be withdrawn, and also closed to prevent the drying out of the contents, the container must be so made that the cover or closure member may be manipulated any number of times without becoming broken or torn.

One object of the invention is the provision of a small container such as a cigarette case or the like made from transparent material, which will be provided with a hinged cover and will possess economy and. durability.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cigarette or like case made of transparent sheet material such as Celluloid, which case will give satisfactory service in use, which will be economical to manufacture, and which at the same time will be attractive in appearance.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a cigarette case embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the case;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, with the cover shown in open position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View on line 6-6 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a View of one of the blanks forming the body of the container.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention I have shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing a container l0, having front and rear sides II and end walls l2. The container body may be formed from two sheets of Celluloid or suitable transparent material of the configuration shown in Fig. 7. After the sheet has been cut as shown Haven, Conn., a corpoin this figure, it is bent along the dotted lines l3, l4 and I5 to form one of the walls II and a portion of the end walls I2, there being one of such portions at each side of the sheet. The lower portion H below the line l5 forms a portion of the bottom of the container.

Two such blanks, as shown in Fig. 7, may be employed, and when formed as indicated may be placed together with the end portions 12 overlapping to form double-walled ends for the container, as shown in Fig. 6, and the bottom portions I I also overlapping to form a double body.

portion. Thus the body of the container is complete when the portions 12 and I3 have been secured to each other by a suitable adhesive or solvent, so that a container is formed having single front and rear walls I l and double end and bottom walls.

In order to brace the two walls of the container against collapse, and also to form a partition or partitions therein, if desired, a U-shaped member I 6 of similar material is placed within the container formed as described, and secured thereto by means of the rivet H, which also forms a portion of the snap fastener to hold the cover of the case closed, as will be hereinafter described. The end portions l8 of the U-shaped member extend from the front to the rear walls of the container, and brace it against collapse.

It has been found to be very diflicult to arrange a swinging closure member for a container of this kind which will give the requisite amount of surface. I have found, however, that the closure member here illustrated will give satisfactory service and may at the same time be readily manipulated. The closure member may be provided with a lower portion 20 secured to the bottom of the container. In the form shown, this portion of the closure extends along the bottom so as to make this member of three thicknesses of material. The material forming the cover is then bent at substantially right angles to form a flap portion 2! which overlies the back wall II of the container, and is continued over a U-shaped bend 22 to form a front flap 23 provided with the snap fastener 24, which cooperates with the fastener I! to hold the cover in closed position.

It will be seen that the cover swings or is hinged about the line or edge 25 adjacent the bottom of the container, so that the flap 2| may bend or flex gradually over its entire height when the cover is moved to open position, as shown in Fig. 3. When closed, the parts lie as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. It will be understood, of course,

that the material, being relatively stiff, will tend to remain in closed position, but may be flexed to open position, as shown in Fig. 3, to permit the contents of the container to be removed. As the flap 2| may be flexed along its entire length, there is very little bending at the point 25, and thus very little strain upon the material, which will result in the container giving long and satisfactory service when in use.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A case for cigarettes or the like, said case having a body portion formed of two sheets oi flexible but relatively stiff material, each of said sheets having bent-over portions at the 'side edges and bottom edge thereof whereby when the two are assembled in opposed relation they form an open container having single-ply front and rear walls and double-ply end and bottom walls, and a cover for the container, said cover having a portion underlying and secured to the container bottom but otherwise unattached thereto and having a rear flap portion disposed rearwardly of the rear wall of the container and an integral front flap to cover the top of the container whereby said cover hinges about the lower rear edge of the container, and means to secure the cover in closed position.

2. A case for cigarettes or the like made of flexible but relatively brittle material, said case comprising a container body having front, rear and end walls and a bottom, a cover for the body comprising a portion disposed below and secured to the bottom of the container, a rear flap portion disposed against the rear wall but free to flex from the rear edge of said first-named portion, a front flap portion lying in parallel spaced relation to the rear flap portion and designed when the cover is closed to overlie the upper portion of the front wall and be secured thereto, a partition member of U-shaped form within the container, the legs of said member extending between the front and rear walls to prevent collapse thereof, means to secure said partition member in place, and means to cooperate with said securing means to secure the cover in closed position.

3. A case for cigarettes or the like, said case having a body portion formed of a flexible but relatively stiff transparent sheet material to provide a container open at the top and having a bottom portion, front and rear sides, and end walls, the material of the front and rear sides being turned inwardly and overlapped to form the end walls integrally therewith and of twoply thickness, said end walls holding the front and rear sides in spaced relation at the ends thereof, means adjacent the intermediate portions of the front and rear sides to hold the latter in spaced relation between the ends thereof, and a cover for said container of a material similar to that of which the container is made, said cover comprising a portion disposed below and secured to the bottom of the container, a rear flap portion disposed against the rear side but unsecured thereto and free to flex from the rear edge of the first-named portion, a front flap portion lying in parallel spaced relation to the rear flap portion and designed when the cover is closed to overlie the upper portion of the front side, and means for securing the front flap portion to the front side of the case.

4. A case for cigarettes or the like, said case having a body portion formed of a transparent flexible but relatively stiff sheet material to provide a container open at the top and having a bottom portion and front and rear sides, the material of the front and rear sides being turned inwardly at the ends thereof, and said inwardly turned portions at each end of the sides being secured together in overlapping relation to form relatively rigid end walls of two-ply thickness to hold the front and rear sides in spaced relation at the ends thereof, a partition member having a body portion secured against one of the sides and bent end portions projecting against the other side, said member being positioned intermediate the ends of the case to there support the walls in spaced relation, and a cover for the container, said cover comprising a portion dis-- posed below and secured to the bottom of the container, a rear flap portion disposed against the rear side but free to flex from the rear edge of the first-named portion, and a front flap portion lying in parallel spaced relation to the rear flap portion and designed when the cover is closed to overlie the upper portion of the front wall and be secured thereto.

CLARENCE A. PEIRCE. 

